davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

that fated 29th of June was at Willis
church, near Glendale 1t was sharp
skirmish with Confederate cavalry on the
Quaker road, by which Mcclellan was re-
treating With the great number of Con-
federates drawing nearer and nearer to his,
right, and Jackson's men after him in the
rear, this retreat of Mcclellan to the James
was no child's play.
June so Mcclellan had reached his new
headquarters at Malvern hill, near the
James But the army of the Potomac had
by no means arrived there 1t had yet more
fighting before it ere it rested Oh the James.
In this bloody retreat fighting enough was
done and lives enough were sacrificed to have
taken Richmond many times over if the Fed
eral generals had only known how TO do it
Three roads leading out from Richmond
intercept the Quaker road by which McClel-
Ian retreated When Reyes began his retreat,
he fortunately discovered an old road run
ming parallel with the Quaker road He
struck that, and by hurrying his men along
it, reached Malvern Hill speedily. A double
line of troops was thus also formed against
the Confederates. The two routes appear on
the map
There was q constant danger of attack by
the Confederates along the cross roads, al
ready mentioned, leading from Richmond,
namely, the Charles City, Central and New
market roads As soon as Lee discovered
the line of McClellan's retreat he ordered
Hill aud Longstreet to reeross to the south
side of the Chickahon,iny and follow south
and intercept the Federals Ire Central road
runs into Long Bridge road, and that crosses
the Quaker road At the intersection Of the
Long Bridge and Quaker reads Hill and
Longstreet found part Of the Fs-lesal forces.
A mile further on, at the junction of the
Newmarket and Quaker roads. McCalls divi-
sion was posted.
Then took place the sixth contest Of the
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

and Heintselman at Aliens farm, but was
three times repulsed. Magruder went in
person to Lee to get re-enforcements in
vain. Lee had ordered Huger and jackson
off somewhere else.
Magruder's attack ceased. Summers corps
then moved nearer savsge station.
McClellan's destruction of the Chicka-
hominy bridges had retarded the pursuit by
jackson, who was on the north side of the
river He did not get over till the morning
of the 30th
Meantime on the afternoon of the 18th,
Magruder again attacked the Federal forces
around Savage Station He saws he had
1890 men. Thus, with Huger's division
pursuing McCiellan's army, Richmond was
quite denuded of troops.
The Federal forces grouped around Savage
station in the battle Of that name were Frank
Inns corps, with Smith and Slocum as division
commanders, Summers corps, and McCails
division of Franklin's corps. Heintzelman
had been ordered by Summer to take position
on the left, but Heintzelman simply withdrew
his corps, and took no part in the battle of
Savage Station. He said there was not room
for so many troops, so he destroyed the stores
at Savage station and started for the james.
1t was well known that there was no love
lost between Heintzelman and Summer
Lee had expected jackson to take part in
the action at Savage station, but Jackson had
not yet been able to rebuild the Grapevine
bridge, and so Magruder fought alone At
$50 Magruder brought his forces into action.
With them was the peculiar rified cannon
which the Confederates called the Land Mer-
rimac." 1t was mounted upon car, and the
| front of it was covered with s1oping iron
roof from which shots ratified harmlessly off.
| The sides were protected with armor plate
over which was another covering of heavy
wood
Just before sunset Magruder's Confederates
made rush for the Union forces at Savage
station. The LAND Merrimac" was used
with great effect They were met with a
heavy fire from the Union line. Then for
half an hour there was nothing but roar and
smoke and deadly fire. At the end of that
| time the Confederate lines were broken
| They gave way, fell back and left the road to
| White Oak swamp open for the Federal re-
| treat to the James. The retreat was con
tinued as soon as the wounded could be
| gathered up, and Summers and Franklin's
corps went on their way, through White
Oak swamp, leaving behind them Savage
| Station, with its huge hospital of sick and
wounded and its medical stores This wa:
McClellan's order 1t fell into the hands Of
Stonewall Jackson next morning, with it:
$500 men
In the battle of Savage station the Con
federates lost 1000 men, the Federals 5000
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

a
dale June 81 the first and heaviest blow of the
ConfederateS fell with crushing force upon
Mccall. Col Simmons met the attack bravely,
and drove the Confcderates back into the woods
Suddenly they turned, and pursued became pur
suers. There frightful slaughter, in which
Col. Simmons was MORALLY wounded Presently
the Confederates made charge in wedge shape
They came down upon Randol's battery with
irresistible fury, yelling like wild Indians Moth
ing could withstand them. with men swarming
under, over aud around the guns and cutting loose
the horses Gen Kearney said afterward that artil
lery was out of the question. Finally McCals line
broke, and he was driven TO the rear, losing some
of the guns kearney came to the rescue after
McCalls defeat, and formed two lines in the
woods. The Confederates charged on the guns
three times during the afternoon, but were re-
pulsed each time, Gen. Mccall, in trying to
rally his men, about dusk. taken prisoner. At
Richmond he saw one of his brigade generals,
Reynolds, captured at Gaines MIL
Fresh troops coming from White Oak Swamp
toward evening finished the fight and drove the
Confederates back. and with the darkness the
battle of Glendale ended At another point in
the Federal line Hunt artillery and Gen Sykes
troops repulsed Confederate attack, at Malvern
Hill, making the third for that bloody June 30
Gen. Meade was dangerously wounded that day.
The Federal line of retreat had not been cut in
two, though it bsd been fearfuliy strained and
that night and the next day the last of the
weary Union troops struggled into the new camp
at Malvern Hill
But it was not to rest, Tuesday, June 1, oc-
f,lrred.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

bne f1Ith Federal FITZ JOHN PORTER tlSSO.
corps on the north side of the Chickahominy,
There were Sc, 900 Union troops, while the
Confederates with the re-enforcements con-
stantly coming up, numbered not less than
$1,000
The Federal troops engaged were Sykes
and Morell's divisions of three brigades each.
The fight of the 27th is also sometimes called
the battle of Cold Harbor.
A P. Hill made an attack and then with
drew somewhat. He kept up half fight for
two hours, waiting for Longstreet and Jack
son. About o'clock SSonewall jackson ar
rived, and at once engaged in battle with all
his force. The Confederate forces in the
fight at Gaines Mills were the divisions of
the two Hills, Longstreet, Branch, Ewell and
Whiting. The battle roared and Numbered
from 2 O'Clock till after sunset. Here was
some of the bloodiest fighting of the war.
Mems lives were no more than a fash of
powder.
Desperate efforts were made to break Por-
ter's line. Regiment after regiment Of Con
federates were rolled against it and recoiled
under the deadly fire that met them. Yet
others came, as though they sprang from the
ground. Ewell, from D. FL Hills left led
one advance. As he came upon the ground
his men met two regiments beaten backward
and flying,
We're whipped, you can't DO anything;
they shouted TO Ewelrs men"
Get out of the way, we'll show you," an
swered the new corners.
But even they could not break the line
They were hard pressed, when suddenly 4, GOO
Georgians, under Lawton, rolled up TO their
aid. "HuiTah for Georgian shouted EweIrs
men.
Meantime, on the south side of the Chicka-
hominy, in the Federal camps, scene was
passing which nobody afterward felt proud
of. Richmond was largely emptied of troops
Across the Chickahominy, within call, were
the corps of Franklin, Sumner, Reyes
Heintzelman Porter, hard pressed, sent to
bis commander for re-enforements. McCIel
Ian, thinking he bad a great force in front of
him, only sent one division, Slocum's, of
Franklin's corps.
Magruder was practicing his yorktown
trick of making a great noise and show
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

House itself had been burnt The night OF
the 28th Of June, it suddenly dawned on Lee
that Mcclellan had changed his base, and
was IN retreat to the James, with the inten-
ton Of drawing supplies by that way. He
determined to send his army in pursuit at
once
Then came the next battles in this CHASTITY
serial--the fights of Aliens Farm and Savage
Station and the affair at Willis church, all
June 90
With all haste Mcclellan had retreated to-
ward the James He gave orders that all
supplies which could not be quickly conveyed
should be destroyed. Says Gen Webb, in
the Peninsula Campaign Lines of fire
marked the camps and depots of the Union
troops. Millions Of rations, hundreds Of tons
of fixed ammunition and shells for the siege
guns were thus lost"
June 20 McClellan's headquarters were re
moved from Savage station to the James
river side of White Oak swamp. The line of
retreat can be seen on the map of the seven
days battle ground The same day Summer
abandoned Fair Oaks and also dropped south
ward, to Orchard station. BY following the
line of march on the map the reader will see
tlIdt tDtI ftiDNtS were III u ufTecUlOn away
from Richmond
''Ah, there was time for you" says one of
the old boys of the army Of the Potomac, who
limps about with bullet wound in his leg,
got in the seven days battle eve used to
fight all day and march all night"
So desperately bent on reaching the
James was Mcclellan that he left his sick
and wounded who could not be moved be
hind him in a hospital at Savage station,
where they would inevitably be taken bv the
Confederates
Sumner and Heintzelmanis corps were at
Aliens farm, near Orchard station, on the
morning of June %. That morning Lees
army started in pursuit of the retreating
Feierals. Huger and Magruder started out,
Magruder by the Williamsburg road, which
led eastward to Savage station, Huger by
the Charles City road, which led southeast
ward to Glendale. These and Longstreet and
A. P. Hill were to attack on the right, while
jackson was to cross the Chickahominy in
the rear of the Federals and pursue from the
north.
Mcclellan, in arranging his retreat, had
ordered Reyes to go forward first and take
position on Malvern Hill, near the James.
Porter and Franklin were to follow, and so,
watching the rear and the right, they were
to push on to the James. This was the
morning of the Goth. Mcclellan himself had
already ridden on toward the James, to Sc
lect a suitable position. The heaviest supplies
were already well on the way Among them
was drove of $500 beef cattle, which were
got off in safety.
Tap,
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

According 10 his usual luck the general was
absent when the battle Of Malvern Hill began
With the changed front, Porter's corps was
on the left. Skirted in an oval around Nal
vern Hill were the other Federal troops: COUGHS
division on the right of Porter, next kearpey and
Hooker, next Sedgwiek and Richardson, next
Smith and Slocum then the remainder of Reyes
corps. Gen, Mcclellan limsek bad ordered this
disposition of troops
The Confederates were in close pursuit. At
O'Clock their advance was seen. They were ranged
In this order: Magruder and Huger on the Con
federate right while circling after them 10 the
left were Jackson. Ewell, Whiting aud D. H.
Hill. Longstreet and A. p. Hill were in the rear
too weary to fight
The Gonfederates had been ordered by Gen.
Lee 10 charge with yellt' If the Federal line
was broken Next. they were to advance with
fixed bayonets and drive the invaders into the
James" But the shouting did not come of.
Gen, ArInistead, who was to carry out this part
of the programme, advanced TO o point where be
could not come on or go back, and his troops lay
down upon the ground to escape the artillery fire
The first attack was made upon Porter and
Couch Morells division Of Porter's corps and
COUGHS division Of Reyes bore the brunt Of the
battle.
The Confederate plan Fas y take Malvern Hill
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

GEN PHIL KEARNEy. Afterward be served
in the Mexican war, and lost an arm while gal
lantly leading charge. July 2 1862 at the close
of MeClellans Peninsula campaign he was pro-
NOTED to a major generalship for gallantry. He
did not long live to enjoy his new honor, however.
He was killed at Chantilly, Va, Sept. l, two
months later.
There was fighting all along the line that
bloody Monday, June 50. Back at White Oak
Swamp bridge, on its south side, Gems. Smith,
Richardson and Nagle were posted with their
commands and Ayres and Hazards bat
teries They had crossed White Oak Swamp
bridge and destroyed it behind them. jack
son came up in hot pursuit, and there was
desperate fighting Hazard was mortally
wounded and his battery cut to pieces. but
stin jackson was held back whole day and
evening by the Federals.
Still is the story told
How well Horatius kept the bridge
In the brave DAYS of old
During the night the Federal forces dropped
southwark, still heading toward Malvern
Hill
The same day, in the afternoon, the hot
fight at Glendale came off AT Willis church,
near the village, MeCalfs division was posted
It had suffered frightfully at Meehanicsville
and Gaines Mill, having been reduced from
10000 to 5000; but it was here again, fighting
in the thickest of the battle at Glendale
kearney's division was at the right of Mccall,
as they faced southwark. Summers corps
was to the left of Mccall, with Hooker's
division on Summers left. Hooker and kear-
ney belonged to Heintzelman's corps.
Longstreet had hoped to gain the intersec-
ton of the Long Bridge road before the Fed
erals could pass it, But he was too late.
Keyes' and Porters corps had already passed
Heintzelmans and Summers men were at
Glendale, with only Franklin in the rear at
White Oak bridge
Longstreet, finding so many Federals at
Glendale, was obliged to wait till Magruder
came up. Gen. Lee and jefferson Davis were
with Longstreet. waiting to see the battle,
Gen. Couch took prominent part in the
first battle of Malvern Hill, which closed the
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28
THE SEVEN DAYS.
June, 1887. Brings Back Their
Quarter Centenary.
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
Splendid Fighting on the Bloody Re.
treat to the James River.

The Desperate Fights of MechanicsviIle,
Gaines Mills, Savage Station, Glen
dale and Malvern HiII-The Route
from Yorktown to the james Strewn
with Soldiers Graves.
After the battle of Fair Oaks both armies
rested while. Hardly had Summers corps
crossed to the south side of the Chicka-
hominy, May 81, 1862, when the Chicka-
hominy rose in mighty food and swept all
before it, Summers Grapevine bridge in
cluded. If the flood had come in the fore
noon of that day at Fair Oaks instead of
toward evening, the corps of McClellan's
army south of the stream would have been
cut to pieces.
Only the railway bridge was left across the
Chickahominy, and over this were brought
supplies for the corps-keyes', Heitzelman's
and Sumner's-on the south side of the
stream. The base of supplies was still at
White House, on the Pamunkey. "The
ground turned into vast swamp says Gen
Webb, "and the guns in battery sank into
the earth by their own weight"
Mcclellan began again in this swamp his
favorite work of throwing up intrenchments.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

Clellan desired re- GEN. W. B. FRANKLIN.
endorsements. For the third time it was
promised that Mcdowell should Join him
second time "Stonewall" jackson prevented
this by making feint in northern Virginia
Mcclellan believed that Mcdowell did not
wish to join him as subordinate, and was
irritated thereat. He wrote Secretary Stan
tom ut ought to he distinctly understood
that Mcdowell and his troops are completely
under my control"
There never was good understanding be-
tween the commanding general and his su-
periors at Washington. Time passed on,
with storm and rain, the commanding gen.
eral execrating the weather, the authorities
at Washington and Gen Mcdowell, the sol
diers in the meantime standing waist deep in
mud and water building bridges and earth
works.
June Is, the famous Confederate cavalry
commander, j. E. B. Stuart, made brilliant
raid, circling quite around the army of the
Potomac. He dashed even into their base of
supplies at White House, on the Pamunkey,
and carried off large number of horses and
prisoners. II gave the Federal authorities an
uncomfortable shaking up in their minds
june Is, Mcclellan made move forward
at Seven Pines. There was small fight at
Oak Grove, in which the Union forces were
victorious, and pickets from Heintzelman's
and Summers corps were posted within four
miles of Richmond
The generalship of Gems Lee and Stone
wall jackson at this time commands admira-
ton. After finishing his movements in the
Shenandoah Valley, jackson wrote to John
ston this significant letter, dated June 6:
SHOULD my command be required at Rich
mond, l can be at Mechanics Run depot, on
the Central railroad, the second days march.
Lee, in command when the letter was re-
ceived, wrote him back that If he could leave
the valley, and ..could deceive the enemy" so
as to make him believe he was still in the
Shenandoah region, to come on.
The two generals hit on the plan OF appar-
entity sending re-enforcements from Richmond
to the Shenandoah, to jackson, giving the
impression that jackson still meditated mis-
chief in the valley. In reality, he was to
meet the re-enforcements and hurry back with
them to Richmond Lawtons and Writings
commands were marched out of Richmond
with flourish, care being taken that the
Federals should be aware OF it. AT Harris
burg jackson met them June II, and all
started back to Richmond. The plan was a
complete success, and it was this trick which
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28
THE BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL.

This battle properly closes the terrific seven
days fighting.
As the troops came in they were posted in
strong positions about Malvern Hill by Gen. Bar
nard, chief engineer. They changed front and
were faced toward Richmond.
1t was finally settled, however. that the perma-
nent camp was not TO be ct Malvern Hill, but at
Harrison's landing on the river, where supplies
could be better obtained and where the army
could be under the protection of the gunboats.
Gen. Mcclellan went on board the Galena to con-
suit with Commodore Rodgers about the supplies
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

good, and | think the older officers of the
army think son
June 8, Gen. Robert Edmund Lee was ap-
pointed to the command of the Confederate
army in Virginia. Thenceforward till the
end that iIlustrious name stood at the head Of
its roll of generals Its defeats were his, It's
successes his successes. At the time the war
broke out, Robert E. Lee was an officer of
thirty-six years standing in the United States
army. He was IS years old. His father was
Light Horse Harry Lee" of the revolution,
the officer who originated the fine phrase
about Washington, First in war, first in
peace and first in the hearts of his country
men,
Robert E. Lee was opposed to secession, but
he felt bound TO the state of Virginia There
fore, June Is, 1861, the day after the Virginia
ordinance of secession was passed, he went to
Gen. Scott and resigned his place in the
army. He said of his resignation: at would
have been presented at once but for the stlug-
gle it has cost me to separate myself from a
service TO which / have devoted all the best
years of my life and all the ability pos
sesSed -
Some of McClellan's ablest officers were of
opinion that he could have pushed on imme-
diately after the battle of Fair Oaks and have
taken Richmond without much difficulty.
The way was open there. But he did not
think 50. He simply crawled ahead little
further, and intrenched
Meantime Geu. Lee began fortifying around
Richmond with all the resources at bis COM
mand In few days, almost as If by magic,
there appeared on every commanding SPOT
about the Confederate capital frowning de
fenses and cannon and guards. After that it
was too late to take Richmond without great
loss.
On June l, 1862, Mcclellan had with him
1880 fighting incentive corps. Lee had &c.
762. Lees men were in divisions under Gems
Longstreet, A. T. Hill, D. H. Hill, Magruder,
Huger, Whiting and Jackson.
Gen. George A. McCall's division of Penn
sylvanians, that had been detached from Nc
Dowells corps, remained with Porter's corps
on the north bank of the Chickahominy On
the south bank, across the river, the Federal
soldiers We're massed heavily about Seven
Pines in this general direction:
Franklin,
Sumner,
Heintzelman,
White Oak Swamp.
As they faced toward Richmond Franklin
occupied the Federal right, Heintzelman the
left keyes corps was kept as reserve
Gen. Franklin followed the fortunes of the
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

gallant and accom-
plished Of American
soldiers Of his time.
He was born in 1915,
in New York city,
and was educated at
Columbia college,
but afterward en-
tered the re gular
army. He went TO
France to pursue his
military studies,
joined the French
army and served with
such distinction in
Algiers that he re-
ceived the Cross of
the Legion of Honor.
A ftzfrrarfl ha ea,x-...H
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28
mes Longstreet was q South Carolinian.

born in 1920: gradu-
ated at West Point,
and served in thu,
Mexican war. After
the civil war he en-
gagged in business
pursuits and held
important govern
ment Offices under
Republican admins
trations. He is now
living at Gainesville,
Cal
Tn the morning
of the 29th Ma
gruder's division
made a lively at
tack on Summer
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

year before Rich
mond fell, the
name of j. E. 3.
Stuart occurs con-
stantly in encount-
ers with the army
of Virginia.
W b ere yer there
was opportunity
for swiftness and
daring there he
was found. May
10, 1864, this IA
nous cavalry man
was mort ally
wounded near
Rinhmnnd in an
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

with a few men.
Indeed, the Con
federate tactics
throug hout the
day, even in the
fight at G aines'
Mill, were some
what similar, and
it is only fair to
say they succeeded.
Now, Sumner re-
ported that his
rignt was gong 10
be attacked in
stantly, then Smith
was sure the Con-
f g d era tie S were
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

The Federal Gen.
Burns and his men
fought desperately.
The battle occurred
on Sunday.
xt morning,
June so, Stonewall
jackson crossed the
Chickahoniny and
followed in pursuit.
Magruder moved
to ward Malvern
Hill.
The third fight
chat tprly n1aca nm
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

After Stuart's raid, June II, Mcclellan
began to prepare for changing his base of
supplies from the PaInunkey across the Pen
insula ON the James river. He did this in
view of possible defeat and disaster.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

Franklin's corps
was moved across
to the right bank.
Fitz John Porter's
corps was the only
one re amin &
upon the left bank.
In his testimony
before the court of
inquiry on the Pen
insula campaign,
Gen. s u m n e +
afterward said. Il
was never in favor
of h o S g field
works. | think
they have a ten
dency to make the
men timid, and do
more harm than
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-06-28

ana ms line OF sup GEN A r. HILL.
plies He therefore prepared to strike Nc
Clel1an at White House. on the Palnunkey.
He sent Ewell and Stuart TO that point to
seize the railway and war supplies They
were a day too late. The stores had been
mostly removed, and such as could not be
carried away were destroyed. The White